Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror

The mirror showed me a version of myself that I didn't recognize, and as I watched in horror, it began to pull me in, I thought to myself, "This can't be happening." But the more I struggled, the stronger the grip of the mirror became.

As I felt myself being sucked in, I heard a voice in my head, "Todd Jones, you have been chosen. Your skills and intelligence are needed for a mission of utmost importance." The voice sounded authoritative, almost robotic.

Suddenly, the pull stopped, and I found myself standing in a strange room, surrounded by unfamiliar technology and equipment. A man in a lab coat approached me and said, "Welcome, Todd. I am Dr. Stone. We have been watching you, and we believe you are the only one who can help us."

"What do you mean?" I asked, still trying to process what had just happened.

"You see, Todd, there is a terrorist group planning an attack on the city. They have a bomb, and we need you to find it and disarm it before it's too late," Dr. Stone explained.

I felt a wave of panic wash over me. How could I possibly be the only one to do this? I was just a regular guy with no training in what he was asking of me. Hell, I wasn’t even from here, wherever here was.

“I’m sorry mister. This has to be some sort of mistake. I’m an unremarkable man, leading a mundane life as a data analyst.”

Todd had always been content with his uneventful existence, avoiding any kind of confrontation, and one who stuck to the safety of routine. His days were spent poring over spreadsheets and reports, and his evenings were filled with TV dinners and reruns of old sitcoms.

“You sure you have the right guy Mr. Stone?”

“Quite sure Todd, and that’s Dr. Stone.” His tone was stern.

But as I looked at the other faces around the room and then saw the determination or was it desperation in Dr. Stone's eyes, I knew that I had to try.

"Okay, I'll do it," I said, feeling a newfound sense of purpose.

Dr. Stone handed me a small device and said, "This is a tracking device. We have reason to believe that the bomb is located in a building downtown. You need to get in, find the bomb, and disarm it. We don't have much time, Todd. The clock is ticking."

With that, I set off on my mission, feeling a mix of fear and determination. As I made my way downtown, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. Every person on the street seemed suspicious, and every car that drove by made me jump.

Finally, I arrived at the building that Dr. Stone had indicated. It was a tall skyscraper with sleek, black windows that seemed to reflect the clouds above.

I took a deep breath and entered the building, my heart pounding in my chest. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew that failure was not an option.

The lobby was quiet, and I could hear the sound of my footsteps echoing off the marble floor. I tried to act casual, as if I belonged there, but my nerves were getting the best of me.

I found the elevator and pressed the button, feeling like I was in some kind of spy movie. The doors opened, and I stepped inside, pressing the button for the top floor.

As the elevator climbed higher and higher, my anxiety grew. What if I couldn't find the bomb in time? What if I failed and the city was destroyed?

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out onto the top floor, looking around for any signs of danger. The space was dimly lit, with shadows cast by the moonlight coming through the windows.

I cautiously made my way through the empty rooms, my eyes scanning every corner for any sign of the bomb. Not that I had any idea of what a bomb might look like. It felt like I had been searching for hours when I finally found it - a small, ticking device hidden in a corner.

As I approached the device, my heart began to race with a mix of fear and adrenaline. It was a small, rectangular box with wires protruding from its sides, each one connected to a tiny, blinking light. The ticking sound grew louder and more urgent with each passing second, and I realized that time was of the essence.

I carefully studied the bomb, trying to determine if there was any way to defuse it. But the device was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and I had no idea where to begin. Panic set in as I realized that I might not be able to stop the bomb from detonating.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind - something I had seen in a movie about bomb disposal. It was a risky move, but I knew it was my only chance. With trembling hands, I began to clip the wires, hoping that I had guessed the correct combination. As I worked, my mind raced with thoughts of what could happen if I was wrong.

Finally, with a click and a hiss of air, the bomb fell silent. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and collapsed onto the ground, my entire body trembling with relief. I knew that I had narrowly escaped disaster, but I also knew that I would never forget the terror of that moment..

I could hear the far off sound of hands clapping, echoing through the empty room, disguising their origin., slowly getting nearer to me. I gathered myself up and got to my feet trying to appear calm.

“Well done Mr. Jones.” The voice was mocking.

“And you are?” I said knowing full well who it was. It was the only thing I could think to say.

The man stepped out from behind a nearby pillar, one of many that occupied the otherwise empty room, He was now clapping sarcastically. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, nothing like the photo Dr. Stone shown me. His face was rounder too, not the chiseled jaw I recalled. His eyes were no longer the piercing blue eyes that seemed to bore into a person’s soul, but rather a deep black, as if from the pit of hell.. He wore a dark suit and tie, the kind you’d expect the villain to be wearing. He was Jules Cormier, the head of IDT (Inter-Dimensional Terrorists), the enemy organization Dr. Stone and his people had been fighting against for years.

"You don't recognize me, Mr. Jones?" he sneered. "I'm hurt. I would have thought you'd know who I am by now."

I narrowed my eyes, trying to hide the fear that was creeping up my spine.

"I know who you are, It would appear you let yourself go a little." I replied evenly. "And I know that you're not going to win this war. I'll do whatever it takes to stop you."

The man laughed, a cold, humorless sound. "Oh, Mr. Jones. You have no idea what you're up against. But I'll give you credit for your bravery. Not many people would have been able to defuse that bomb. You truly are a worthy opponent."

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as he approached me, his eyes never leaving mine. But I refused to show any weakness. I stood my ground, ready to fight if I had to.

"I'll never stop fighting against you," I said through gritted teeth. "Even if it means risking my life every day."

The man stopped in front of me, a cruel smile on his lips. "We shall see, Mr. Jones. We shall see." And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing back into the room from where he came.

As I made my way back to Dr. Stone's lab, I couldn't help but feel proud of myself, but at the same time wanting to throw up. I had never imagined that I could do something like this, but I had proven myself wrong.

From that day forward, I lived two different lives, one on each side of the mirror.. My life would never be the same. On the other side I became part of a secret organization, using my newfound skills to help protect their world from danger. A part of me wished that those skills and abilities I had on the other side would have followed me to my world. And though I still sometimes caught a glimpse of that unfamiliar face in the mirror, I no longer felt afraid. I was a hero, and nothing could ever change that, even if nobody in my world knew.